Aksarben-Elmwood Park - Omaha, NE

Long before its current map boundaries, the neighborhood gained fame as the scene of Nebraska Territory’s very first court trial. Modern development began in the 1800s, continuing through annexation into greater Omaha in 1917. Two years later, the Aksarben businessmen bought 200 acres and built a barn and racetrack on the grounds.

These days, the scene is far less agricultural. Examine the local art scene at Glass Harmony Gallery or sink into the comfy seats at Aksarben Cinema, which also sells alcohol and cheap tickets before noon. Village Canvas and Cabernet also combines entertainment and beverages with painting courses — one drink included with the cost of the lesson and equipment.

The annual Omaha Beer Festival draws residents to Stinson Park in Aksarben Village for 50-plus breweries, Beer Academy sessions, food vendors and live music. Tickets cover one day of beer samples and a special tasting glass.

Aksarben-Elmwood Park’s original residents may have been mostly Swedish, but the neighborhood now supports one of the city’s most diverse range of ethnic restaurants and cafes, representing flavors well beyond Scandinavia. Most venues trace an outline around Aksarben-Elmwood Park on Saddle Creek Road and Center Street. Aksarben Village also provides a collection of eating options within its self-contained community.

The neighborhood boasts one of the city’s best vegan restaurants, Modern Love. Patrons accept higher prices in exchange for fresh and hard-to-find supplementary ingredients. Try the Mac and Shews with cashews or the Seitan skewars; or, purchase the chef’s cookbook to attempt your own meatless meals at home. Reservations are recommended.

At Saigon Bowl, a local family serves make-your-own Vietnamese fast food dishes. Choose the meat, vegetables, base and sauces for 100 different combinations. However, a lack of suggested pairings means you may run into some overwhelming tastes. Can’t decide? Order the 18-hour ribs and lemongrass tofu.

Gerda’s German Restaurant & Bakery catches both early-morning and late-night patrons with its fresh Danishes and doughnuts. Stop by for a coffee and breakfast snack, pop in for one of the limited lunch meals, or settle down for a Bavarian three-course dinner including soup, bread and your choice of potato or spätzle. Also try Jagerschnitzel — a house favorite.

After a good meal, stick around the neighborhood for a beer at O’Leavers Pub, a dive bar that organizes live local music gigs and sand volleyball games. DJ’s Dugout, in Aksarben Village, shows sports on TV and sponsors game day specials, such as 50-cent wings on Wednesdays.

Alternatively, LIV Lounge attracts a college-age crowd for cocktails and Thursday trivia nights. The slightly older Track’s Lounge, a residents' haunt since the 1960s, features an outdoor patio and claims to have the “world’s best chicken.”

Buses form Omaha Metro’s only public transportation system, which runs between downtown and 180th Street, as well as between the city's north-south limits. Three routes service the area: Route 13 runs north-south along 72nd Street, while Routes 11 and 15/55 link residents with West Omaha and Downtown. At the Midtown Transit Center in neighboring Midtown, connect with most other routes around the city. Buses run about every 30 minutes.

With several main roadways as borders, Aksarben-Elmwood Park’s location allows for convenient driving access to the city center and suburban and rural areas beyond. A 13-minute drive down Leavenworth drops residents in the Old Market, while a 20-minute ride along Interstate 80 sends you outside city limits.

While parking at modern shopping centers and venues, such as Aksarben Village, poses no issue due to large lots, many of the neighborhood’s older restaurants and stores provide only a few small spaces for vehicles. Street side parking is un-metered in most places, including residential blocks. Avoid the hassle with South Central’s Happy Cab Dispatch, or check in with Lyft, the local ride-sharing service. The service’s convenient app allows you to locate potential drivers around the city from your phone. Uber is a similar service that operates in the city using a mobile app.

Though the neighborhood has no official bike lanes, cyclists utilize wide, paved shoulders on Center Street and a designated bicycle route along Aksarben Drive. Most of Aksarben-Elmwood Park’s roads are considered “survivable” by local pedestrians and cyclists. The multiuse Keystone Trail, which runs through the neighborhood, creates an additional recreational option and connects North 90th Street to the West Papio Trail.

Elmwood Park began as an example to other city green spaces, a chunk of land set aside in 1889 to create a natural escape for Omaha’s working masses. Acre by acre and activity by activity, the park has grown to be an organic center point for the neighborhood.

Renovations include an 18-hole golf course and swimming pool, though the park’s historic pavilion remains in its original position. Wander or cycle down the trails that cross Elmwood’s 216 acres, or just relax over a picnic lunch. Further features, such as two baseball fields and a lagoon, provide families and individuals with recreational opportunities just a few miles from home. Dogs can burn off some energy off-leash in designated areas.

Elmwood hosts the annual Creighton Prep Cross Country Race. Its lawn has been the stage for Nebraska Shakespeare’s summer Shakespeare On The Green theatre performances since the 1980s.

Aksarben Village’s Stinson Park, though smaller than Elmwood, floods with residents due to its outdoor forms of entertainment. Paid events such as the Whiskey and Cocktail Festival and the ARTSarben arts festival combine with free opportunities, such as weekend concerts and yoga classes, to keep the park humming year-round. You can bring Fido along, but he must remain on-leash at all times.

The cost of living in Aksarben-Elmwood Park is roughly 18 percent lower than the average cost of living in Omaha. Rental rates, however, tend to run higher than rates in other areas of the city. Expect to pay about $902 for a one-bedroom unit rental.

From any stop along the neighborhood’s Metro routes, a one-way bus ticket costs $1.75. Opt to drive and pay over 1 percent less than the national average cost of fuel. Pop into the pub for a pint of beer and pay $3 to $5; splurge on a mixed drink and spend $6 to $9.

Aksarben-Elmwood Park's stores line Leavenworth and Pacific Streets. An absence of national chains leave space for niche shops catering to just about everything: residents don't have to leave the neighborhood to buy a new shirt, garden seedlings, craft supplies, books or kitchen plates. For higher-end fashion boutiques and designer labels, swing by Aksarben Village.

At The Humble Home, vintage furniture and home wares are refurbished in-store and sold for moderate prices. The owners have a reputation for charming guests; visit the store's website for information on the latest in-stock pieces.

A different crowd frequents Legend Comics & Coffee, a cafe with a huge selection of graphic novels, trade paperbacks and comic paraphernalia. Come for the hot beverages, accessible by drive-through, and enjoy it with a pastry from Gerda's Bakery next door. Or, attend one of Legend's trivia or comedy open mic nights.

Big chain names appear on the neighborhood's grocery shopping outlets, Hy-Vee and Baker's. If you prefer to buy locally, stop by the Omaha Farmer's Market located on Center Street. The seasonal market runs late spring through early autumn, with a Holiday Market in December. Besides the expected fruit and vegetable produce, you can find homemade condiments, crafts, flowers and dairy products.